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I AMI MAGGIE'S WILL I 

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VOL. I. 
1 Ion 

J Fazio 

i The Lady ei Lyoni 

4 Richelieu 

6 The Wife 

6 The Honeymoon 

7 The School for Scandal 

8 Monty 

VOL. II. 
• The Stranger 

10 Grandfather Whitehead 

11 Richard III 

12 Love's Sacrifice 
18 The Gamester 

14 A Cure for the Heartach. 

15 The Hunchback 

14 Don Ceeear de Bazan 
VOL. III. 

17 The Poor Gentleman 

18 Hamlet 
1» Charles II 

20 Venice Preserved 

21 Pizarro 

22 The Lot* Chase 

23 Othello 

24 Lend me Five Shillings 

VOL. IV. 
26 VIrglnius 

26 King of the Commons 
21 Loudon Assurance 
88 The Rent Day 
29 Two Gentlemen of Verona 
80 The Jealous Wife 
31 The Rivals 
82 Perfection 

VOL. V. [Debts 
38 A New Way to Pay Old 

84 Look Before Vou Leap 

85 King John 

86 Nervous Man 

37 Damon and Pythias 

38 Clandestine Marriage 

39 William Tell 

40 Day after the Wedding 

VOL. VI. 

41 Speed the Plough 

42 Romeo and Juliet 

43 Feudal Times 

44 Charles the Twelfth 
46 The Bride 

46 The Follies of a Night 

47 Iron Chest [Fair Lady 

48 Faint Heart Never Won 

VOL. VII. 

49 Road to Ruin 

50 Macbeth 

61 Temper 

62 Evadn* 

63 Bertram 

64 The Duenna 

66 Much Ado About Nothing 

66 The Critic 

VOL. VIII. 
(7 The Apostate 
68 Twelfth Night 

19 Brutus 

60 Simpson & Co 

• 1 Merchant of Venice 

42 Old Heads* Young Hearts 

63 Mountaineers [ringe 

64 Three Weeks after Mar- 

VOL. IX. 

61 Lore 

86 As You Like It 

67 The Elder Brother 

68 Werner 

69 Gitippus 

70 Town and Country 
Tl King Lear 

72 Blue Devils 

VOL. X. 
78 Henry VIII 
74 Married and Single 
76 Henrv IV 

76 Paul Pry 

77 Guy Manncrlng 

78 Sweethearts and Wives 

79 Serious Family 

60 Sne Stoops to Conquer 



VOL. XL 

81 Julius Csesar 

82 Vicar of Wakefield 

83 Leap Year 

84 The Catspaw 

»5 The Passing Cloud 

86 Drunkard 

87 Rob Roy 

88 George Barnwell 

VOL. XII. 

89 Ingomar 

90 Sketches In India 
9\ Two Friends 

9' Jane Shore 

93 Corsican Brothers 

94 Mind your own Business 

95 Writing on the Wall 

96 Heir at Law 

VOL. XIII. 

97 Soldier's Daughter 
9 Douglas 

99 Marco Spada 

100 Nature's Nobleman 

101 Sardanapalus 

102 Civilization 

103 The Robbers 

104 Katharine and Petruchio 

VOL. XIV. 

105 Game of Love 

106 Midsummer Night's 

107 Ernestine [Dream 

108 Rag Picker of Paris 

109 Flying Dutchman 
lid Hvpocrite 

111 Therese 

112 La Tour de Neele 

VOL. XV. 

113 Ireland At It It 

114 Sea of Ice 

115 Seven Clerks 

116 Game of Life 

117 Forty Thieves 

118 Bryan Boroihme 

119 Romance and Reality 

120 Ugolino 

\\.L. XVI. 

121 The Tempest 

122 The Pilot 

123 Carpenter of Rouen 
1 4 King's Rival 

125 Little Treasure 

126 Dombey and Son 

12" Parents' and Guardians 
ltd Jewess 

VOL. XVII. 

129 Camllle 

130 Married Life 

131 W'enlock of Wenlock 

132 Rose of Etlrickvale 

133 David Copperfield 

134 Aline, or the Rose of 
i35 Pauline [Killarney 
136 Jane Eyre 

VOL. XVIII. 
Night and Morning 

138 jEthiop 

139 Three Guardsmen 

140 Tom Cringle 

141 Henriette, the Forsaken 

42 Eustache Baudin 

43 Ernest Maltraverg 

144 Bold Dragoons 
VOL. XIX. 

145 Dred, or the Dismal 
[Swamp 

146 Last Days of Pompeii 

147 Esmeralda 

148 Peter Wilkins 

149 Ben the BoUswain 
HO Jonathan Bradford 
151 Retribution 

169 Mineral i 

VOL. XX. 
163 French Spy 
154 Wept of Wish-ton Wish 
1*6 Evil Genius 
156 Ben Bolt 
167 Sailor of Fra»ce 
158 Red Mask 
169 Life of an Aotrets 
160 Wedding Day 



[Moscow 



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161 All's Fair in Lore 

162 Hofer 

163 Self 

164 Cinderella 

165 Phantom 

166 Franklin 

167 The Gunmaker'of 

168 The Love of a Priuoo 

VOL. XXII. 

169 Son of the Night 

170 RoryO'More 

171 Golden Eagle 
"72 Rienasi 

173 Broke -i Sword 

174 Rip Van Winkle 

175 Isabelle 

176 Heart of Mid Lothian 
VOL. XXI II. 

177 Actress of Padua 

178 Floating Beacon 

179 Bride oi Lammermoor 

180 Cataract of the Ganges 

181 Robber of the Rhine 

182 School of Reform 

183 Wandering Boys 
"84 Mazeppa 

VOL. XXIV. 

185 Young New York 

186 The Victims 

187 Romance after Marriage 

188 Brigand 

189 Poor of New York 

190 Ambrose Gwinett 

191 Raymond and Agnes 

192 Gambler's Fate 
VOi.. XXV. 

193 Father and Son 

194 M issanie llo 

195 Sixteen String Jack 

196 Youthlul Queen 

197 Skeleton Witness 

98 Innkeeper of Abbeville 

99 Miller and his Men 

200 Aladdin 
VOL. XXVT. 

201 Adrienne the Actress 

202 Undine 

203 Jesse Brown' 

204 Asmodeus 
206 Mormons 

206 Blanche of Brandy wine 

207 Viola 

208 Deseret Deserted 
VOL. XXVII. 

209 Americans in Paris 

210 Victorine 

211 Wizard of the Wave 

212 Castle Spectre 

218 Horse-shoe Robinson 
21. Armand, Mrs. Mowatt 
Fashion, Mrs. Mowatt 

216 Glance at New York 
VOL. XXV1I1. 

217 Inconstant 

218 Uncle Tom's Cabin 

219 Uuide to the Stage 

220 Veteran 
Miller of New Jersey 

222 Dark Hour before Dawn 

223 Midsum'rNight'sDrean 
[Laura Keene's Editioi 

224 Art and Artifice 
VOL. XXIX. 

225 Poor Young Man 

226 Ossawattomie Brown 

227 Pope of Rome 

228 Oliver Twist 

229 Pauvrette 

230 Man in the Iron Mask 

231 Knight of Arva 

232 Moll Pitcher 

VOL. XXX. 

233 Black Eyed Susan 
v:<4 Satan in Paris 

235 Rosin a Meadows [ess 

236 West End, or Irish Heir- 

237 Six Degrees of Crime 
288 The Lady and the Devil 

239 A veneer, or Moor of Sici- 

240 Masks and Faces [ly 



VOL. XXXI. 

241 Merry Wives of Windsor 

242 Mary's Birthday 

243 Shandy Maguire 

244 Wild Oats 

245 Michael Erie 
46 Idiot Witness 

247 W T illow Cops* 

248 People's Lawyer 
'OL. XXXII. 

249 The Boy Martyrs 

250 Lucretia Borgia 

251 Surgeon of Paris 

252 Patrician's Daughter 

253 Shoemaker of Toul usa 

254 Momentous Question 

255 Love and Loyalty 

256 Robber's Wife 
VOL. XXXIII. 

257 Dumb Girl of Genoa 
Wreck Ashore 

259 Clari 

260 Rural Felicity 

261 Wallace 

262 Madelaine 

263 The Fireman 

264 Grist to the Mill 
VOL. XXXIV. 

265 Two Loves and a Life 

266 Annie Blake 
67 Steward 

268 Captain, Kyd 

269 Nick of the Woods 

270 Marble Heart 

71 Second Love 

72 Dream at Sea 

vol. xxxv. 

273 Breach of Promise 

274 Review 

275 Lady of the Lake 

276 Still Water Runs Deep 

277 The Scholar 

278 Helping Hands 

279 Faust and Marguerite 

280 Last Man 
VOL. XXXVI. 

281 Belle's Stratagem 

282 Old and Young 

283 Raffaella 
Ruth Oakley 

285 British Sir *e 
266 A Life s liansom 
287 Giralda 
28 Time Tries All 

VOL. XXXVII. 

289 Ella Rosenburg 

290 Warlock of the Glen 

291 Zelina 

292 Beatrice 
2i»3 Neighbor Jackwood 

294 Wonder 

295 Robert Emmet 

296 Green Bushes 
VOL. XXXVIII. 

297 Flowers of the Forest 

298 A Bachelor of Arts 

299 The Midnight Banquet 

300 Husband of m Hour 

301 Love's Labor Lost 

302 Naiad Queen 

303 Caprice 

304 Cradle of Liberty 
VOL. XXXIX. 

305 The Lost Ship 

306 Country Squire 

307 Fraud and its Victims 

308 Putnam 

309 King vid Deserter 
810 La F ammina 

311 A Hard Struggle 

312 Gwinnette Vaughan 
VOL. XL. 

313 The Love Knot [Judge 

314 Lavater, or Not a Bad 

315 The Noble Heart 

316 Coriolanus 

317 The Winter's Tale 

318 Eveleen Wilson 

319 Ivanhne 

320 Jonathan in England 



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AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL 



% Cometip in €Jjree &ct£ 



BY 



ELIZABETH GALE 



Copyright, 1910, by Samuel French 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38TH STREET 



London 
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL, 



Characters. ^^ 

Jane Scott, a practical young person. a . 

Priscilla Parsons, irreproachable. 

Bessie Thorn, irresponsible. 

Madeline Gray, engaged. 

Minnie Wells, 

Julia Watson, 

Henrietta Clark, 

May Bell, 

Mrs. Sims, a competent housekeeper from Peachville Centre. 

Delia, an incompetent one from Ireland. 



s- willing to be. 



TKPS2-009365 
© CI. D 22843 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 



Scene. — A room in the home of Bessie Thorn. A 
kitchen shower for Madeline is in progress. Min- 
nie and Julia have already eome a?id are seated 
about a table toward the right of the stage showing 
their gifts to Bessie. To the left, at the back of the 
room, is a door through which the girls enter. 

Bessie (examining the dainty little apron tjimmed 
with lace and ribbon which Minnie has brought). Oh, 
isn't this dear! And pink is so becoming to Madeline. 
I am so glad you did not think, because this is a kitchen 
shower, that you had to bring one of those ugly things 
that most people wear. I would hate to see Madeline 
in one. Did you make it yourself ? 

Minnie. Yes, all but basting it together. Mother 
did that for me for I was so puzzled when I saw all 
the little pieces — the strings, ruffles and the rest. 
What did you bring, Julia ? 

Julia (unwrapping a very fancy cushion). All of the 
kitchen chairs I have ever seen have been so hard and 
uncomfortable looking that I have made a cushion so 
that Madeline will have at least one inviting place to 
sit in her kitchen. Don't you think it is pretty ? 

Bessie. Indeed I do. It is perfectly sweet. Made- 
line will be delighted with it, I am sure. And this is 
what I am giving her (displaying candlesticks with elab- 
orate green shades). Kitchens are such hot places, 
you know, and green throws such a cool, pleasant 
light. 

Minnie. Aren't they just darling ! 

Julia. Perfectly dear ! 

Bessie. I think they are, too, and I hope the girls 
will all bring pretty things. I am going to put every- 

3 



4 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

thing on this table. (She rises and begins to arrange 
them.) 

(Enter Henrietta.) 

All. Hello, Henrietta ! 

Henrietta. Hello, girls ! 

Bessie (embracing her). Oh, you dear thing ! What- 
ever made you so long ? Here we've been waiting and 
wondering. And say, what did you bring ? 

Henrietta (showing her gift). I brought this tablet 
for memoranda. See, I put this big green bow on it 
partly because it looked pretty and partly because I 
could hide quite a large satchet in each of the loops, 
and you know it is so nice to have satchet in the kit- 
chen — that is I should think it would be — to counteract 
the odors of cooking. When I get married I am going 
to have dozens in my kitchen. 

Bessie {taking the satchet from Minnie and Julia 
who have been admiring it). Weren't you clever to 
think of it ! And see, the green ribbon just goes with 
the candle shades. (She piaces it on the table with the 
other things.) 

Henrietta (going to the table). Oh, aren't they 

dear ! Who 

(Enter May with a big bundle in her arms.) 

May (breathlessly). Oh, girls, I thought I would 
never get here ! And say ! It began to sing in the 
street car. Let me put it down somewhere. No, it is 
not heavy but it is such an awkward thing to carry. 
(She sets it down on a chair.) And its name is 
Euliphilli ! 

All. What ! 

Bessie. Who's name ? What is it ? 

May (taking off the wrappings as the girls crowd 
about her). The little darling's name, of course. It 
is a canary. Say, wouldn't you like to have one like 
him in your kitchen ? Isn't he dear? And you ought 
to hear him sing ! 

Julia. Isn't he cunning ! Shall I put him on the 
table with the other things ? 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 5 

Bessie. Please do. Isn't this going to be the 
finest kitchen shower you ever saw ! Every one is 
bringing such delightful gifts. 

{Enter Priscilla with an immense parcel.) 

All. Oh, hello, Priscilla I 

Priscilla. Good afternoon. Isn't this a beautiful 
day ? Aren't we having fine weather for this time of 
year ? 

Bessie. Fine. But say, Priscilla, what did you 
bring ? 

Priscilla {handing her parcel to Bessie). I brought 
a flowering plant. It is advisable, you know, to make 
our surroundings as attractive as possible and 

All (as the plant is unwrapped). Oh-h-h 1 

Bessie. How sweet ! 

Minnie. Darling ! 

Julia. Dear ! 

Henrietta. Perfectly lovely ! 

May. Where did you get it, Priscilla, at the new 
florist's on the corner of First Street ? He has beauti- 
ful things. 

Minnie. But won't it take up a lot of room in the 
kitchen ? 

Priscilla. If Madeline takes my advice she will 
have a large airy kitchen. It is one of the most im- 
portant 

(Enter Jane.) 

Jane. Hello, girls ! 

All. Hello, Jane ! 

Jane. Here's my donation. (She hands her package 
to Bessie who unwraps a frying-pan and puts it on the 
table with the other gifts with an air of great disappoint- 
ment.) What you can't use is of no use, is my motto. 
(Going to the table.) Is this the shower? It looks to 
me more like a fancy table at a bazaar than a kitchen 
shower. 

Minnie (aside). Wasn't she horrid to bring such 
an ugly thing ! 



(J AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

Julia {aside). But people use frying-pans. 

Minnie {aside). Yes, but brides don't want to think 
about them. I wish I dared hide it under the table. 

Jane (finding a comfortable chair). Where's Made- 
line ? Hasn't the guest of honor come yet ? 

Bessie. No, she is very late. I don't see what can 
keep her. (They all seat themselves.) 

May. Maybe she is writing to Mr. Randolph. She 
writes to him every day, you know ; she told me so. 

Henrietta. Have you met him, girls — Mr. Ran- 
dolph ? I met him last week and he certainly is 
stunning. 

Priscilla. And they say he is clever too. 

Julia. They say he has money too. 

Jane. What a remarkable man ! 

Bessie. Oh, girls ! Did you know that Susan 
Moore and Will Henry have announced their engage- 
ment ? i 

Priscilla. Impossible I 

Minnie. Gracious ! 

Julia. Really ! 

Jane. Poor Billy ! 

Bessie. Oh, Jane, aren't you mean ! Susan is just 
as sweet and dear as she can be. 

Jane. Of course she is, and pretty too, but she 
doesn't know anything, poor child ! 

Bessie. Doesn't know anything! Why, she can 
speak French and German and sing beautifully and 
paint some — and 

Jane. Oh, yes, I know all that, but it will not help 
her to get poor Billy's dinner. 

May. Well, Billy might hire a cook. 

Jane. Yes, Billy might if Billy had the money. 

Minnie. Jane, you'd spoil anybody's romance. 
(Jane shrugs her shoulders as they all turn away f?-om 
her with marhed disapproval.) 

May. Have you seen the latest addition to Made- 
line's trousseau? It is a rainbow chiffon wrap and it 
is the sweetest, dearest thing you ever saw. Some 
one sent it from Paris. She does not know how to put 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 7 

it on yet but it certainly is the loveliest thing in the 
world. 

(Enter Madeline.) 

All (ruing). Madeline ! 

Bessie. What has kept you so long, dear ? Where 
have you been ? 

Madeline (sinking- into a chair). Let me get my 
breath ! I have walked so fast. Girls, what do you 
think ! 

Bessie. Oh, we can't think — tell us. 

Madeline. Well, it is certainly the strangest thing 
you ever heard of. 

May. Yes, I am sure it is. Go on. 

(They all settle themselves but draw up closer to Ma- 
deline.) 

Madeline. Well, just I was getting ready to come 
here, who do you think called ? 

All. Who ? 

Madeline. Mr. Scribbles ! 

All. Mr. Scribbles ! 

Madeline. Yes, Mr. Scribbles, the lawyer, and 
what do you think he wanted ? 

Bessie. What ? 

Madeline. He wanted to tell me that Mr. Ran- 
dolph's Aunt Maggie was dead. 

Jane. Isn't that too bad! 

Julia. I am so sorry ! 

Bessie. Will it postpone your wedding ? 

Jane. When did it happen ? 

Madeline. I don't know, but the important part is 
that she left a will. 

Minnie. A will, gracious ! 

Madeline. Yes, and the will says that she leaves 
all of her money to Freddie — If 

All. What ? 

Madeline. If he married a competent house- 
keeper ! 

All. A housekeeper ! 



8 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

Bessie. How perfectly ridiculous I 

Madeline. Isn't it ? 

Bessie. Why, she must have been crazy ! 

Madeline. No, Mr. Scribbles says she was not, 
and he seems to think that she showed a lot of good 
sense in the matter. 

Jane. So do I. 

Bessie {reproachfully). Jane ! 

Madeline. And he says that if Freddie marries a 
girl who can not keep house she leaves every cent she 
has to an orphan asylum. Think of it ! 

May. But of course you can keep house, Madeline, 
so it will be all right. 

Madeline. Of course I can and I told Mr. Scrib- 
bles so, but he said that the will stated that he must 
assure himself of the fact, and he began to ask me 
what I could do. 

Jane. Well, what did you tell him ? 

Madeline. I told him I could make tea and a 
rarebit, and charlotte russe, and a lot of nice little 
things. 

Minnie. You make the most delicious fudge I ever 
tasted, Madeline, didn't you tell him that ? 

Madeline. No, I forgot that. 

Jane. — What did he say when you told him about 
the other things ? 

Madeline. All he said was " Ahem ! " And then 
he asked me if I knew how to clean house — sweep and 
dust and scrub and things like that. 

Bessie. — The horrid man ! And what did you tell 
him then ? 

Madeline. I told him that Mr. Randolph would 
never think of allowing me to do such things. 

Henrietta. Why of course he wouldn't. Just fancy 
the wife of a stunning looking man like that getting 
down and scrubbing the floor ! 

Madeline. Yes, think of it 1 That's what I told 
Mr. Scribbles, so he said that perhaps I need not do 
the actual work myself but it would be necessary for 
me to know how to do it so that I could direct the 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 9 

servants ; and he asked me what I would do if were 
house cleaning time. 

Jane. And you told him — ? 

Madeline. I told him I would hire a washwoman. 

Priscilla. A washwoman ! What would you hire a 
washwoman for ? 

Madeline. Why, to wash the windows and floors 
and— and — do the cleaning. 

Bessie. How clever of you ! I never would have 
thought of it. 

Madeline. And then he asked me what room I 
would clean first and I told him the hall because that 
is the first thing you see when you come into a house, 
and then I would clean the cellar because you always 
begin at the bottom and go up. You see I had reasons 
for everything I said, and he had to admit that they 
sounded logical. 

Julia. So it is all settled then, he is satisfied? 

Madeline. No, he isn't. That is the funny part 
of it. 

Minnie. I don't see what more he could want. 
Surely you answered him well. 

Madeline. He said he would like to see my theo- 
ries put into practice, so I am going to hire an apart- 
ment and keep house. 

Minnie. ) ~ , , 

t, y Good ! 

Bessie. ) 

May. How lovely ! 

Priscilla. That will be perfectly ideal. 

Bessie. You will let me come and help you, won't 
you ? 

Madeline. Of course you can come and help if 
there is anything to be done. I expect you all to come 
and visit me anyway. But I haven't told you all yet. 
Mr. Scribbles decided that he did not know anything 
about housekeeping after all, and that it would be 
better for him to send some one experienced to do the 
inspecting. So, Mrs. Sims, a friend of Aunt Maggie, 
who lives at Peachville Center, is coming to visit me 
so that she can tell him that everything is all right. 



10 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

May. Peachville Center ! Way off there in the 
country ! We will show her what housekeeping is ! I 
have been reading in the magazines all about the latest 
ideas for arranging the table. We must have her for 
luncheon the first day and we'll have the decorations 
in pink and green. I saw the sweetest plan for a 
pink and green luncheon in last months Ladies' 
Mazazine — you have all the things to eat in pink and 
green too. 

Minnie. Won't that be lovely ! 

Henrietta. I think perhaps she will get some new 
ideas on housekeeping before she goes home. 

Jane. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if she did. 
Girls, if you will let me give you a bit of advice 

Henrietta. Please don't, Jane. I know from the 
way you have behaved this afternoon that you would 
throw cold water on the whole scheme. 

Jane [rising). Well, if I can't talk I may as well 
go. Good-bye, girls. I wish you luck with the house- 
keeping, Madeline. Good-bye ! 

All. Good-bye ! 

( Exit Jane.) 4 

Minnie. Jane means well, I know, but she isn't 
always very agreeable. 

Henrietta. No, she never will enter into our plans 
and I sometimes wonder how she ever got into our set 
anyway. 

Bessie. When will you start, Madeline ? 

Madeline. Just as soon as I find a place. 

Priscilla. In the meantime, Madeline, I shall col- 
lect all the useful bits of knowledge on the subject I 
can find for your perusal. 

May. Well, your kitchen is all furnished. 

Bessie. Oh, yes ! I forgot this was a shower. 
{Rising) Behold your kitchen furniture ! 

Madeline (going over to the table). Aren't they all 
perfectly lovely ? 

May. All but the frying-pan. Wasn't it mean of 
Jane to bring such an ugly thing? But then, Jane 
always does do the unexpected. 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. H 

Minnie. I am going to put it under the table, for 
now that Jane is gone it cannot hurt her feelings and 
it just spoils the other things. 

Bessie. Do you know, I think it was just perfectly- 
lovely for Mr. Randolph's Aunt Maggie to make a will 
like that. It gives a little — er — spice to your engage- 
ment. 

Madeline. Yes, and whatever happens afterwards, 
Freddie will always know that I am a good house- 
keeper — for I will have proved it. 

CURTAIN. 



ACT II. 



Scene. — The dining-room in Madeline's apartment. To 
the rig/it of the stage is a table, to the left a couch. In 
the background, to the left is a door leading out into 
the hall ; to the right another door leading into the 
kitchen. The room is in great confusion and Made- 
line, Priscilla, Henrietta and May are trying 
desperately to put it in order while Minnie and 
Julia are setting the table. 

May (pausing in the act of dusting a chair). Isn't 
it perfectly lovely, Madeline, to be in your own home ? 
(Circulating with the duster?) There is such a sense of 
freedom ! 

Madeline. Y — yes, but there is a sense of re- 
sponsibility too. I wish we had started a week ago to 
settle. I had no idea how much work it would be. It 
is good of you girls to come and help me. But, oh ! 
It is not anywhere near time for Mrs. Sims yet, is it ? 

Henrietta. Oh, no ! of course not. Don't you 
worry, Madeline, we will get everything done in time, 
won't we, girls ? 

Minnie. Of course we will. There, isn't the table 
pretty ? I am sure the luncheon is going to be a suc- 
cess. 



12 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

Madeline. I do hope so, but I begin to wish that 
I had done a little experimenting before I asked the 
lady. Delia, you know, came only a few hours ago, 
and it seems to me she needs a little training. I have 
told her very carefully, though, how to serve things 
and I think it will go all right. 

May. This pile of old books doesn't look very nice 
here on the table, what shall I do with them ? 

Madeline. Oh, anything you don't know what to 
do with just throw under this couch. 

(May takes the books and shoves them under.) 

Henrietta. What are you going to have for lunch, 
Madeline ? 

Madeline. First we are going to have tomato bis- 
que. Delia said she did not know how to make it. so 
I got it canned. Jane told me to — she 'phoned this 
morning to see how I was getting along. And then 
we are going to have salmon salad on lettuce leaves. 
I got two dozen cans of salmon for I wanted to be sure 
to have enough. That is two apiece for each of us — 
counting Delia — and some left over. I think that will 
do, don't you ? 

May (rolling up an apro?i and throwing it under the 
couch). Oh, I think that ought to be enough salmon, 
but aren't you going to have anything else ? 

Madeline. Yes, I am going to have some frogs' 
legs. They are green, you know, and this is to be a 
green and pink luncheon. 

Minnie. They are green when they are alive, but 
are they when they are cooked ? 

Madeline. Well, I don't know why they wouldn't 
be. I don't see how cooking would change their color. 

Minnie. No, I don't see how it would either, but 
I had an idea that maybe it did. See ? Don't you 
think these flowers are better a little lower ? It is so 
much more sociable when you can look across the 
table at your neighbor. 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 13 

(Enter Bessie with her arms full of bundles which she 
drops on the table.) 

Bessie. There is the bread and butter and pepper. 
But say, Madeline ! I got only half a pound of pepper. 
When I told the man I wanted a pound he asked me 
if I really meant it, so I said I guessed a half a pound 
would do, and he looked the queerest you ever saw 
and said he guessed it would. Here it is; do you 
think it will be enough ? 

Madeline. Oh, I — I hope it will. But it doesn't 
look like very much, does it ? 

May. It will do for to-day anyway and then you 
can easily get more. 

Henrietta. I am going to throw this old cushion 
under the couch too. {Throws it tinder) It doesn't go 
with the color scheme a bit. 

(Enter Delia from the kitchen. She is very untidy and 
sets a plate down on the table roughly.) 

Madeline (startlea). Delia ! 

Delia. Yis, m'am. 

Madeline. Please try to do things a little more 
quietly. And, Delia, when you serve luncheon I hope 
you will not come in with your kitchen apron on like 
this, will you? 

Delia (tjvirling her gingham apron behind her and 
displaying a ivhite one under it). I'll do so, m'am, and 
whin I stand before yer yer'll be none the wiser fur 
phat's behind me. 

Madeline. I 'd rather have you leave the gingham 
apron in the kitchen. Did you fix the pink and green 
ribbons on your cap as I told you to ? 

Delia. Yis, m'am, and it's a grand headdress I'm 
after havin'. Begorry, it would do fur me weddin'. 

Madeline (motioning toward the bundles Bessie has 
laid o?i the table). You may take these out to the 
kitchen, Delia. 

Delia. Yis, m'am. 

Madeline. You may go now. 



14 AtTNT MAGGIES WILL. 

Delia. Yis, m'am. 

{Exit Delia.) 

Madeline. Do you think she would be offended if 
I told her to comb her hair ? 

Priscilla. It is my theory that one should treat a 
servant as one would like to be treated. Now, would 
you like a stranger to tell you to comb your hair ? 

Henrietta. But Madeline's hair never looks like 
Delia's. 

Priscilla. That is not the point — but the principle 
is the same in both cases. 

Madeline. Well, I am glad you think it is not the 
thing for me to do. I was dreading it, but I thought 
it might be my duty. 

{All start as the bell rings loudly^) 

Madeline. Can it be Mrs. Sims ! 

Julia. Will Delia let her in all right ? 

Madeline. Oh, I am afraid so, and just look at 
this room ! 

Bessie. But the parlor is all right and you can en- 
tertain her there until we get things in order here. 

(Enter Delia by the hall door.) 

Delia. There's a woman at the door, m'am. 

Madeline. A lady, Delia. Did you show her into 
the parlor ? 

Delia. 'Deed an' I did not. I stood her fininst 
the door and, sez I, " Don't yez move a fut 'till I come 
an' give yez laive." Garry jinny ! m'am, did yez think 
I'd put her in the parlor to run off wid all yer gran- 
deur ? 

Madeline, Oh, what will she think of us ? 

Julia. I am just as excited as I can be. (Throw- 
ing things 7vildly under the couch) Hurry, girls ! Give 
me everything that's lying around. This is the quick- 
est way to get rid of them. 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 15 

(All but Priscilla begin to pick up things and throw 
them under the couch and hide them about the 
room.) 

Priscilla (thoughtfully). I would not call my state 
of feeling excitement ; I would say rather, that I have 
a great foreboding as if some terrible disaster were 
near. 

Delia. And it's right you are, m'am, for I hear it 
coming as fast as its two feet will carry it along. 

Delia goes out by the kitchen door. The hall door opens 
suddenly and Madeline screams as Mrs. Sims 
efiters and plants herself solidly before it.) 

Mrs. Sims (to Madeline). I disapprove of nervous 
women. 

Madeline. I am sorry, Mrs. Sims, but you startled 
me — you 

Mrs. Sims. I surprised you. Yes, I know it. I 
meant to. I'm here inspectin' housekeepin' and the 
way to inspect thoroughly is to take the housekeeper 
by surprise. Seems to me you have plenty of help 
here. 

Madeline. These are just friends who have come 
in to lunch with me. Let me introduce the girls, Mrs. 
Sims. 

Mrs. Sims. Oh, we don't need any introducin'. 
All I need to know is their names and I guess I can 
find that out by askin'. (Turning to Minnie) What's 
your name? 

Minnie. My name is Minnie Wells. 

Mrs. Sims. And yours ? (She points to each in turn 
and they respond with their names.) Any of you mar- 
ried ? 

All. Oh, no. 

Mrs. Sims. Going to be ? 

May (giggling). I hope so, some day. 

Mrs. Sims. Are you engaged ? 

May. Dear me, no ! 

Mrs. Sims. Got a beau ? 



16 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

May (with an attempt at dignity}. I don't know 
what you mean, Mrs. Sims. 

Mrs. Sims. Well, if you don't know what a beau 
means you ain' goin' to be marriedfor some time yet. 
(Turning to Priscilla) You got a beau ? 

Priscilla. Certainly not. 

Mrs. Sims. Certainly not ! Well, I guess you must 
all be calculatin' to stay old maids. 

(Delia enters from the kitche?i a?id motions to 
Madeline.) 

Madeline. Well, what is it, Delia ? 

Delia (aside}. There's nothin' to make tay in, 
m'am, but a fryin'-pan. 

Madeline [aside). What else do you want ? 

Delia. Sure, m'am. Yis, m'am. It's grain that 
I am, m'am. 

(Exit Delia.) 

Madeline. Won't you let me take your hat, Mrs. 
Sims ? 

Mrs. Sims. No, thanks. I won't take it off. It 
sets real comfortable. It's too bad you should have 
so much company on wash day. 

Madeline. This is not wash day. 

Mrs. Sims. 'Tain't wash day ! Ain't that your 
wash woman ? you don't mean to say it's your hired 
girl? 

Madeline. Yes, it is. 

Mrs. Sims. Well, I never ! I thought you was keep- 
in' house yourself. 

Madeline. I am directing the housekeeping. Mr. 
Scribbles and I decided that it was not necessary for 
me to do the menial work myself. I understand that 
I am to know enough about it to manage a household, 
and I have asked you here to show you that I am 
quite capable of doing it. (Delia enters.) You may 
serve lunch, Delia. 

Delia. Yis, m'am. (She starts to go out, turns back 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 17 

and whispers to Madeline, then goes out shaking her 
head.) 

Mrs. Sims (seating herself with her back to the table 
and taking out her knitting). I'll jest knit a row while 
we're waitin'. I never set idle, and let me tell you, if 
that's the way you all do — set around ddin' nothin' this 
way. — (she glances about disapprovingly at the girls who 
are trying to appear at ease) 'tain't any wonder to me 
that you ain't got any beaus and don't know what they 
mean. Land sakes ! when I was a girl — But, what 
with their washin' machines and trolley cars and all 
sech like, times do change and I suppose there ain't 
no use talkin'. But I ain't forgot how to keep house 
yet, though, and folks are jest as crazy about my bread 
an' pies an' cake as they were then, an' there's jest as 
many as would like me fur their housekeeper. I could 
have been married time and again more than I have 
but I didn't want to be greedy with so many old maids 
in the world. Give everybody a chance, sez I, whether 
they'll take it or not. And when you've had three hus- 
bands, and all of 'em as different as mine, I say that's 
enough matrimony for one woman. Never — the — less 
and not — with — standing, if you are a good cook and 
housekeeper you'll never wait long to find out what a 
beau is, and you'll know just as well — providin' you 
keep your hand in — when you're sixty as you did when 
you was sixteen. 

(Delia has, in the mea?itime, been putting on the table 
whole heads of lettuce, cans of salmon, a loaf of 
bread and a pou?id of butter in the box as it came 
from the store ; also she has put two immense bows 
of pink and green ribbon in her untidy hair. 

Delia (coming forward). That's the thruest word 
yer ever spoke, m'am, and sure it's Delia Malony as 
knows it. In the ould country there was niver a gir-r-1 
what could bile praties wid meself, and it's many the 
lad comes courtin' me. Ah, it's well I mind the times 
I've had, m'am. And one day, m'am, I was goin' wid 
Patsy McMannis to the fair — ha, ha ! It was this 



18 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

way, m'am. We was ridin' wid a crate of chickens 
in the cart — and finer hens was niver raised — when 
shouldn't they bust open the crate and off they goes 
over the bog and Patsy after 'em Ha, ha, ha ! When 
I thinks of it now ! Patsy wid his coat-tails flyin' — ha, 
ha, ha 1 

Madeline. Delia, you forget yourself. 

Delia. 'Deed an' I do, m'am, whin I think of Patsy 
an' how he looked leppin' over the bogs, ha, ha, ha ! 
But it's Delia, now, m'am, that wasn't far behind him. 

Madeline. Delia, I wish you would continue to 
serve the lunch. 

Delia. Yis, m'am. And I'll tell yez the rest while 
yez ate it. 

(Exit Delia to kitchen) 

Madeline. I am perfectly astonished at her ! 

Mrs. Simms. Are you ? Well, I am perfectly as- 
tonished to see somethin' stickin' out from under the 
couch. Looks like it might be somebody's best bonnet. 
(She gets up and pulls it out.) Well, I swan to gracious, 
if it ain't ! And books and pictures and aprons and 
coats, and land knows what all. Stuffed as full as a 
roasted turkey. (She pulls them all out into the ??iiddle 
of the room and then goes about looking behind and under 
things, gathering here an apro?i, there a duster or a news- 
paper and throwing each o?ito the pile, talking all the 
time.) Well, I- never hear tell of sech a thing — under 
the couch and behind the pictures. All flowers and 
fuss before your eyes and rags and dirt and untidiness 
in the corners. My, my, my ! How long did it take 
you to put them away ? Jest look at it all now ! I 
didn't know there was hidin' places enough in one room 
to hold it all. (Pointing tragically to the pile.) Look, 
look ! Is that what you call good housekeepin' ? 

(Enter Delia.) 

Delia. Yez can come ate now. (Goes out at once.) 

(1 hey all exclaim as they catch sight of the table.) 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 19 

Madeline. Oh, dear 1 How could you 1 
Mrs. Simms. So that's what you're goin' to have 
for lunch is it ? One, two, three — ah — h ! nine cans of 
salmon ! You must think we have dainty little appe- 
tites. Is that all you have in the house ? 

Madeline (missing the sarcasm). Oh, no. I have 
two dozen cans. I knew better than to run short. 

(Enter Delia.) 

Mrs. Simms. Yes, I guess you did, and we're goin' 
to eat it all out of the cans. Well, it will save dish- 
washin' and that's somethin' to be said for it. 

Delia. 'Deed an' it is, m'am. But I hope it's yez 
as can open 'em for it's more than I can do wid the 
strength of me two arms. (Laying hatchet on the table) 
I borrowed this and may be it will help yez out. 

(Exit Delia.) 

Mrs. Sims. Well, I guess we'll let that salmon sleep 
peaceful in its cans, but as far as I can see there ain't 
nothin' else to eat but elligance and dirty lettuce. 
Humph ! ( To Delia who has come back with the frying- 
pan full of tea) What yer got there ? 

Delia. Sure it's tay, m'am. 

Madeline. Oh, Delia, how could you 1 Isn't this 
mortifying ! 

Delia. 'Deed an' it's that, fur it's yourself as told 
me to do it, and it's not the first queer thing you've 
said this day. 

Madeline. But I didn't mean 

Delia. Faith, an' there's no tellin' phat yez mean, 
m'am, wid yez grain frogs' legs and yer decorations to 
match, an the bows yer stick on me head till I feel like 
a cockatoo. Sure an' it's not long I'll be stayin' wid 
the likes of yez. (To Mrs. Sims) An' wad yez be- 
lieve me, m'am, there's narry a thing in the kitchen 
but a canary bird, a flower-pot, a fryin'-pan — an' meself, 
m'am. 

Madeline (sobbing). You're a horrid — impudent — 
ungrateful c-creature and you c-can g-go at once. 



20 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

Delia. Sure an' I can that, an' it's glad I am to be 
laivin'. 

{Exit Delia slamming the door.) 

Mrs. Sims. Well, I guess I've seen all I need to 
and there 's nothin' left for me to do but tell you what 
I think — which won't take long. What I think is jest 
this : You ain't goin' to marry Freddie Randolph. I 
knew his Aunt Maggie good. She could keep house 
if she did have money, and she set proper store by her 
housekeepin' — she didn't call it menial work — and she 
would raise right up and hant me if I let Freddie marry 
any one who did like this when she had used him to 
what was right and proper. Good-bye ! I'm goin' 
right out to find somethin' to eat and the railroad 
station, and I'm mighty glad I didn't stop to take off 
my bonnet. 

{Exit Mrs. Sims through the hall door.) 

Madeline {throwing herself down on the couch). Oh, 
Freddie, Freddie ! 

{Enter Jane and finds them all weeping?) 

Bessie. Isn't this dreadful ! 

Jane. It certainly is. I never saw so many tears 
all at once in my life. 

Madeline. Oh, Jane, do you know ? 

Jane. I met the inspectress in the hall so I can 
guess. 

Madeline {sobbing). I have lost Freddie. Oh dear, 
oh dear ! 

Jane. Well, I wouldn't feel so bad about it. 

Madeline. Bad about it! It will kill me ! 

Minnie. You are an unfeeling wretch. 

Jane. Not at all. I have just come to pour oil on 
the troubled waters of your domestic life and show you 
a ray of hope. 

Madeline. I don't see any hope for m-me. 

Jane. And you never will while you keep your eyes 
full of handkerchief and your mouth full of tears. {A 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 21 

brief pause broken only by sobs.) I went to See Mr. 
Scribbles to-day. 

Madeline. D-don't t-tell me anything about him. 
He is r-responsible for all of this. 

Jane. Don't be too hard on the poor man ; he is 
going to give you another chance. I foresaw this 
catastrophe and thought of a plan to set things right 
again. Mr. Scribbles agrees and it only remains for 
Madeline to approve and go to work. 

Minnie. Go to work ! 

Jane. Yes. My plan is simply this, that you, 
Madeline, take a course in domestic science. You 
would learn to cook and keep house and to manage 
servants. I think I would keep this apartment, if I 
were you, for practical work, and when you find from 
experience that your housekeeping is satisfactory, ask 
the lady again. 

Madeline. I don't ever want to see her again. 

Jane. Oh, you will change your mind about that. 

Madeline. Do you think I could ever learn ? 

Jane. Of course you could, but you would have to 
postpone your wedding for it would take you at least a 
year. 

May. Well, better late than never. 

Madeline {tragically). Oh, Freddie ! I haven't 
lost you after all ! 

(CURTAIN). 



ACT III. 

Scene. — The dining-room in Madeline's apartment. 
A year has elapsed since the last act and the room 
shows great improvement in housekeeping. The 
table is set simply but daintily for two. As the cur- 
tain goes up Mrs. Sims and Madeline enter by the 
hall door. 

Mrs. Sims. No siree ! You can't shet me off in no 
parlor when I come on an inspectin' trip. I told you 



22 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

that before. I want to be right on the spot and see 
how you do things. {Looking around.) You seem to 
be some tidied up since I was here last. 

Madeline. Oh, yes, Mrs. Sims. I have learned a 
great deal since then. 

Mrs. Sims {looking tinder the couch). Yes, I see 
you've learned somethin'. {She goes about examining 
things.) Yes, yes, yes — you have learned somethin'. 
No dust on the chairs, no dust on the table — everything 
in pretty good order. {Seating herself.) Set down and 
let me talk to you. You have learned somethin 1 about 
cookin', too, I hear. What can you do, can you roast 
meat ? 

Madeline. Oh, yes, indeed ! 

Mrs. Sims. Fry potatoes and make pie and cake 
and biscuit and rolly-polly ? 

Madeline. Oh yes, I can do all of these things, 
and I can fix lobster a la Newburg and beef a. la mode, 
and bake the most delicious casseroles, and make ten 
different kinds of ice cream. And have you learned 
to make Zuppa di Magro ? That is something quite 
new. No ? You don't know ? Well, I will show you 
if you care to learn. I hope you are going to make 
me a nice visit this time. Won't you take off your 
bonnet ? You must not leave without your lunch 
to-day. 

Mrs. Sims. N — no, I don't know as I will. I kinder 
have a presentiment. 

{Enter Minnie from the kitchen. She is dressed as a 
waitress a?id puts something on the table and goes 
out.) 

Mrs. Sims. YouVe got a new hired girl, I see. 
Well, she's enough sight better than the other one. 
How does she work ? 

Madeline. She works very well, thank you. You 
see she is not really a hired girl ; she is one of the girls 
you met here before. I have been teaching them as I 
learned myself. Henrietta and Julia are cooking for 
me to-day and are eager to show you how well they 
can do it. 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 23 

Mrs. Sims {untying her bonnet strings). Well, I 
guess I'll stay a while — my presentiment's leaving. 

Madeline (ringing a bell). May will take your 
things. 

(May, dressed as a maid, comes in, takes Mrs. Sims' 
bonnet and goes out again?) 

Mrs. Sims. The girls ain't very sociable since they 
learned housekeepin'. Don't they never talk ? 

Madeline. Not when they are acting as maids. 
It is not proper for them to. 

Mrs. Sims {stiffening). Humph ! 

{Enter Minnie from kitchen). 

Minnie. Luncheon is served. 

Madeline (showing Mrs. Sims to her place.) Won't 
you sit here, Mrs. Sims ? (They take their places and 
Minnie passes the croutons?) 

Mrs. Sims. What's them ? 

Madeline. Croutons. 

Mrs. Sims (disaprovinglv). Croutons 1 Never heard 
of 'em. No, I don't want any. Take 'em away. 
What kind of soup do you call this any way ? 

Madeline. This is bouillon. 

Mrs. Sims. Humph ! Sort of thin stuff I call it 
without any vegetables into it. Does Freddie like it ? 

Madeline. I believe he does. 

Mrs. Sims. Well, I don't. You can take it away. 
Never heard of serving soup in cups anyway. What 
else have you got ? (Minnie removes the bouillon and 
brings in the second course.) 

Madeline. Did you have a pleasant trip this morn- 
ing, Mrs. Sims ? 

Mrs. Sims. Oh, so — so. 

Madeline. Perhaps you would like to go shopping 
with me this afternoon. 

Mrs. Sims. I don't know as I am going to stay 
that long, my presentiment is coming back. 

Madeline. I thought you were going to stay a 
week. 



24 AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 

Mrs. Sims. I was, but I don't feel jest comfortable. 
What's this I'm goin' to eat now? 

Madeline. This is Venetian Halibut. 

Mrs. Sims. Humph ! That don't sound tasty. 
How do you make it ? 

Madeline. You flake the halibut and then bake it 
with carrots and celery and green peppers and a little 
lemon juice. 

Mrs. Sims. Why, that ain't nothin' more nor less 
than baked fish fixed up fancy. I guess I can eat 
some of that. And creamed potatoes ! I know them 
when I see 'em but I guess I wouldn't if you called 
'em. Now what's this she's givin' me ? 

Madeline. Tomato a la Homburgh. 

Mrs. Sims. Land o' Goshen ! If you called a 
Peachville Center tomato a name like that it would rise 
right up off the plate. That baker's bread ? 

Madeline. No, I baked it myself this morning. 

Mrs. Sims. You did ! Well, I must say it ain't so 
bad. 

Madeline. Will you have some more of the Vene- 
tian Halibut ? 

Mrs. Sims. No, thanks; don't know as I will. It 
sounds so foreign that I can't eat it in peace. Do you 
know how to fry beefsteak ? 

Madeline. I can, yes, but I prefer to broil it. 

Mrs. Sims. Oh, you do hey ? 

Madeline. Yes, it makes it more tender. 

Mrs. Sims (to Minnie as she removes this course). 
So you have learned to cook too, I hear. 

Minnie. Yes, madam. {Exit.) 

Mrs. Sims. Well, I must say her manners ain't 
improved any with all she's learned. If you'll give me 
a cup of tea now, I'll be going. 

Madeline (in dismay). What ! Hasn't the lunch- 
eon been a success ? 

Mrs. Sims. Maybe it has, but I ain't used to this 
kind of success. I like good plain straight house- 
keepin' without any frills, but when folks begins to put 
for one, can't stand it. Here I can't eat a, 



AUNT MAGGIE'S WILL. 25 

mouthful without I ask what it is and I say that ain't 
a comfortable way to do. Give folks honest meat and 
potatoes and make 'em good and keep your house 
clean, says I. Who does more puts on airs and I ain't 
got any use for it. (As Minnie puts a showy mould of 
ice cream be/ore her.) What's that ? 

Madeline. That is the ice cream. I made it my- 
self and I do want you to taste it. 

Mrs. Sims (rising). You expect me to spoil it by 
eatin' ! That would go plumb against my conscience. 
Where's my hat ? I can't stand this another minute. 
Get me my hat. 

Madeline (rings bell). And — and c-can't I marry 
Freddie after all ? 

Mrs. Sims. Don't ask me. (To May who enters 
from the hall) Get me my hat. (To Madeline) 
I don't know nothin' about it. You ask me to come 
here and inspect housekeepin' and you show me frills. 
I don't know anything about frills. You've got the 
place clean, I must say, and your frills seem to set 
good on you, but I say it again, they ain't becomin' to 
Lydia Ann Sims. (Taking her bonnet from May and 
tying it on hurriedly.) Thank you, m'am. No, m'am, 
you can't do nothin' else for me. I'm that flustered 
already with havin' someone at my elbow all the time 
that I've fair got the creebles. Good-bye, m'am. 
Freddie can marry you for all of me, but if he does 
after eatin' here he deserves anything that happens to 
him. Good-bye ! (She goes out, evide?itly very much 
agitated, and the girls come in from the kitchen?) 

May. Well, has she gone again ? 

Henrietta. Is it all over ? 

Madeline (triumphantly). It is all over but the 
wedding. 

CURTAIN. 



DEC 19 iyiu 



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(French's Standard Drama Continued from 2d page of Cover.) 



VOL. XLL 
SSI The Pirate's U«ncy 
S!S The Charcoal Burner 
»*3 Adelgitha 
S84 Senor Valient* 
1*5 Forest Rose 
821 Duke's Daughter 
827 Camilla's Husband 
8St Pure Gold 

VOL. XLII. 
894 Ticket of Leave Man 

830 Fool'* Revenge 

831 O'N'ell the Great 

832 Handy Andy 

833 Pirate* of the Islet 

834 Fauchon 

835 Little Barefoot 
338 Wild Irish Girl 

VOL. XLIIL 
887 Pearl of Savoy 

838 Dead Heart 

839 Ten Nights in a Bar-room 

840 Dumb Boy of Manchester 

841 BelphegortheMounteb'k 

842 Cricket on the Hearth ' 

843 Printer's Devil 

844 Meg's Diversion 



VOL. XLIV. 
346 Drunkard's Doom 

346 Cbiinnev Corner 

347 Fifteen Years of a Drunk 

348 No Thoroughfare f ard's 

349 Peep O' Day L L-ife 
360 Everybody's Friend 
351 Gen. Grant 

362 Kathleen Mavourneen 

VOL. XLV. 

353 Nick Whiffles 

354 Fruits of the Wine Cup 
35b Drunkard's Warning 

356 Temperance Doctor 

357 Aunt Dinah 
Widow Freeheart 
Frou Frou 

360 Long Strike 
VOL. XLVI. 

361 Larcers 
36-2 Lu. ille 

363 Randall's Thumb 

364 Wicked World 

365 Two Orphans 

366 Colleen B nvn 

367 'Twixt Axe and Crown 

368 Lady Ckacarthy 



VOL. XLVIL 

369 Saratoga 

370 Never Too Late to Mend 

371 Lily of France 

372 Led Astray 
878 Henry V 
374 Unequal Match 
>76 May or Dolly'* Delusion 
:76 Allatoona 

VOL. XLVHI. 
577 Enoch Arden 

378 Under the Gaa Light 

379 Daniel Rochat 

380 Caste 

381 School 

382 Home 
< David Garrick 

384 Ours 

VOL. XLIX 
85 Social Glasf 

386 Daniel Druce 

387 Two Rosea 

388 Adrienne 

389 The Bella 

390 Uncle 

391 Courtship 

392 Not Such a fool 



VOL. L. 

393 Fine Feathers 

394 Prompter's Box 
896 Iron Master 

- .--Ml 

..iliouA Galatea 
i6% Leah 

399 Scrap of Paper 

400 Lust in Lou. >. hi 

VOL. U, 

401 Octoroon 

4Q3 Confederate Spy 
408 Mariner's Return 

404 Ruined by Drink 

405 Dreams 

406 M. P. 

407 War 

408 Birth 
VOL. LII. 

409 Nightingale 

410 Progress 

411 Play 

412 Midnight Charge 

413 Confidential Clerk 

414 Snowball 

415 Our Regimen i, 

416 Married for Money 
Hamlet in Three Acta 
Guttle & Gulpit 



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cha ,-acter. 
HTSPLAND LEGACY. Comedy in 1 Act by 

Brandon Thomas, auth >r of "Charley's Aunt." 

6 male, 2 female characters. 



Contents of Catalogue which is sent Free. 



Amateur Drama 

Amateur Operas 

Articles Needed by Amateurs 

Art of Scene Painting 

Baker's Reading Club 

Beards, Whiskers, Mustaches, etc. 

Bound Sets of Plays 

Bulwer Lytton's Plays 

Burlesque Dramas 

Burnt Cork 

Cabman's Story 

Carnival of Authors 

Charade Plavs 

Children's Plays 

Comic Dramas for Male Characters 

only 
Costume Books 
Crape Hair 
Cumberland Edition 
Darkey Dramas 
Dramas for Boys 
Drawing-room "Monologues 
Elocution, Reciters and Speakers 
Ethiopian Dramas 



Evenintr's Entertainment 

Fairy and Home Play6 

French's Costumes 

Trench's Editions 

French's Italian Operas 

French's Parlor Comedies 

French's Standard and Minor Drama 

French's Standard and Minor Drama, 

hound 
French's Scenes for Amateurs 
Frobisher's : opular Recitals 
Grand Army Dramas 
Guide Books for Amntenrs 
Guide to Selecting Plays 
Hints on Costumes 
Home Plavs for Ladies 
Irish Plays 
Irving's Plays 
.Tuvenile Plavs 
Make-Up Book 
Make-Up Box 
Mock Trial 

Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works 
New Plays 



New Recitation Books 

Nigsrer Jokes and Stump Speeches 

Parlor Magic 

Parlor Pantomimes 

I'ieces of Pleasantry 

Poems for Recitations 

Plays for Mil Characters only 

Round Games 

Scenery 

Scriptural and Historical Dramas 

Sensation Dramas 

SeHo-Comic Dramas 

Shadow Pantomimes 

Shakespeare's Plays for Amateurs 

Shakespeare's Plays 

Stanley's Dwarfs 

Spirit Gum 

Tableaux Vivants 

Talma Actor's Art 

Temperance Plays 

Vocal Music of Shakespeare's Plays 

Webster's Acting Edition 

W T igs, etc. 



(French's Minor Drama Continued from 4th page of Cover.) 



VOL. XLL 
Adventures of a Lo 

ost Child [Letter 

Court Cards 
"ox and Box 
-ty Winks 
jriderful Woman 
-tout Cat* 
iedleton's Tall Coat 



VOL. XLII. 

329 As Like as Two Peas 

330 Presumptive Evidence 
831 Happy Band 

332 I'inafore 

333 Mock Trial 

334 My Uncle's Will 

335 Happy "air 
836 My Turn Next 



VOL. XLIII. 

337 Sunset 

338 For Half a Million 

339 C ble Car 

340 Early Bird 

341 Alumni I 'lay 
312 Show of Hands 
:',43 Barbara 

344 Who's Who 



VOL. XLIV. 
346 Who's To Win Him 

346 Which is Which 

347 Cup of Tea 

3*3 Sarah's Young Man 
34'! Hearts 

350 In Honor Bound [Law 

351 Freezing a Mother-in 
358 My Lord in Livery 



1UEL FRENCH, 28=30 West 38th Street, New York City. 



J 



%W New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed D ree on Request. 



FRENCH'S MINOP iw*ma 



Price IS Cents each.-Bound V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



VOL. I. 

1 The Irish Attorney 

2 Boots lit the Swan 

3 H<.w to 1'ay the Reat 

4 The Loan of a Lover 
6 The Dead Shot 

6 His Last l .,egs 

7 The InvU.Dle Prince 
b The Goblen Fanner 

VOL. II. 
9 I 'ride of the Market 

10 Used Up 

1 1 The Irish Tutor 

12 The Barrack Room 

13 Luke the Laborer 

14 Beauty and the Beast 

15 St. Patrick's Eve 

16 Captain of the Watch 

VOL. III. 
IT The Secret [pe 

18 White Horse of the Pe 

19 The Jacobite 

20 The Bottle 

21 Box and Cox 

22 Bamboozling 

23 Widow's Victim 

24 Robert Macaire 

VOL. IT. 

25 Secret Service 

26 Omnibus 

27 Irish Lion 

28 Maid of Croissv 

29 The Old Guard 

30 Raising the Wind 

31 Slasher and Crasher 



33 Cocknies in California 

34 Who Speaks First 

35 Bombastes Furioso 

36 Macbeth Travestie 

37 Irish Ambassador 

38 Delicate Ground 

39 The Weathercock [Gold 

40 All that Glitters It Not 

VOL. VI. 

41 Grimshaw, Bagshaw and 

Bradshaw 

42 Rough Diamond 

13 Bloomer Costume 

14 Two Bonnycastles 

15 Born to Good Luck 

lb Kiss In the Dark [jurer 
47 'Twould Puzzle a Con- 
18 Kill or Cure 

VOL. VII. 

49 Box and Cox Married and 

50 St. Cupid [Settled 

51 Go-to-bed Tom 
5* The Lawyers 

53 Jack Sheppard 

54 The Toodlet 

55 The Mobcap 
51 Ladies Beware 

VOL. VIII. 
5T Morning Call 

58 Popping the Questlox 

59 Deaf as a Post 

60 Ne ,t Footman 

61 Pleasant Neighbor 
,2 Paddy the Piper 

63 Brian O'Linn 

64 Irish Assurance 

VOL. IX 

65 Temptation 

66 Paddv <"*rey 

67 Two Gregonee 

68 King Charming 
$9 Po-ca-hon-tas 

70 Clockmaker's Hat 

71 Married Rake 

72 Lore and Murder 

VOL. X. 

78 Ireland and America 

74 Pretty Piece of Business 

75 Iriih Broom-maker 

76 To Paris and Baek for 

Plve Poundi 
TT That Blessed Bab* 
T8 Our Gal 

79 Swiss Cottage 
10 Young Widen' 



VOL. XI. 

81 O'Flannig an and the Fai 

82 Irish Post [riei 

83 My Neighbor's Wife 

84 Irish Tiger 

85 P. P., or Man and Tiger 

86 To Oblige Benson 

87 State Secrets 

88 Irish Yankee 

VOL. XII. 

89 A Good Fellow 

90 Cherry and Fair Star 

91 Gale Breezely 

92 Our Jemimy 

93 Miller's Maid 

94 Awkward Arrival 

95 Crossing the Line 

96 Conjugal Lesson 

VOL. XIII. 

97 My Wife's Mirror 

98 Life in New York 

99 Middy Ashore 

100 Crown Prince 

101 Two Queens 

102 Thumping Legacy 

103 Unfinished «»utleman 

104 House Dog 

VOL. XIV. 

05 The Demon Lover 

06 Matrimony 

107 In and Out of Place 

108 I Dine with My Mother 
lCs Ili-a-wa-tha 

110 Andv Blake 

1 1 1 Love* in '76 [ties 

112 Romance under Difficul- 
VOL. XV. 

118 One Coat for 1 Suite 

114 A Decided Case 

115 Daughter [noritv 

116 No; or, the Glorious Mi- 

117 Coroner's Inquisition 
18 Love in Humble Life 

119 Family Jars 
Personation 

VOL. XVI. 
121 Children in the Wood 

22 Winning a Husband 

23 Day After the Fair 

24 Maki Your Willi 
ib Rendezvous 

26 My Wife's Husband 

27 Monsieur Tonson 

28 Illustrious Stranger 

VOL. XVII. 
129 Mischief-Making [Mines 
' :10 A Live Woman in the 

31 The Corsair 
132 Shy lock 

"Spoiled Child 

134 Evil Eye 

135 Nothing to Nurse 

136 Wanted* Widow i 
VOL. XVITL 

137 Lottery Ticket 

138 Fortune's Frollo 

139 Is he Jealous! 
K0 Married Bachelor 

141 Husband at Sight 

142 Irishman in London 

143 Animal Magnetism 

144 Highways and By-W ays 
VOL. XIX. 

145 Columbus 

146 Harlequin Bluebeard 

147 Ladie» at Home 

48 Phenomenon in a Smock 

Frock 

49 Comedy and Tragedy 

50 Opposite Neighbors 
151 Dutchman's Ghost 

52 Persecuted Dutchman 
VOL. XX. 

118 Wtusard Ball 

,5* Great Tragic Revival 
165 High Low Jack A Game 

156 A Gentleman from Ire- 

157 Tom and Jerry [land 
168 Village Lawyer 

159 Captain's not A-miss 
1W Amateurs and Aotors 






. VC 

161 Promot 

162 \ Fasi 

163 Mrs. Ci 

164 Shakespi 
I6& Nrptune 

166 Lady of 

167 Take C 
i68 Irish Wi 

VOL. XX1L 

169 Yankee Peduler 

170 Hiram Hireout 

171 Double-Bedded Room 

172 The Drama Deiended 

173 Vermont Wool Dealer 

174 Ebenezer Venture [tei 

175 Principles from Charac 

176 Lady of the Lake (Trav) 

Vol. xxiii. 

177 Mad Dogs 

178 Barney the Baron 

179 Swiss Swains 

180 Bachelor's Bedroom 

181 A Roland for an OH 

182 More Blunders than One 

183 Dumb Belle 
lf>4 Limerick boy 

VOL. XXIV. 

185 Vature and Philosophy 

186 Teddy the Tiler 

187 Spectre Bridegroom 

188 Matteo Falcone 
Jenny Lind 

190 Two Buzzard* 

191 Happy Mam 

192 Betsy Baker 
VOL. XXV. 

193 No. 1 Round the Corner 

194 Teddy Roe 

195 Object of In West 

196 My Fellow Clerk 

197 Bengal Tiger 

198 Laughing Hvena 

199 The Victor Vanquished 
Our Wife 

VOL. XXVI. 

201 My Husband's Mirror 

202 Yankee Land 
803 Norah Creina 

204 Good for Nothing 

205 The First Night 

206 The Eton Boy 

207 Wandering Minstrel 

208 Wanted, 1000 Milliners 
VOL. XXVII. 

209 Poor Pilcoddy 

210 The Mummy [Glasses 

211 Don't Forget your Opera 

212 Love in Livery 

213 Anthony and Cleopatra 

214 Trying It On 

215 Stage Struck Yankee 

216 Young Wife & Old Um- 
brella 

vol. xxvni. 

217 Crinoline 
A Family Failing 

219 Adopted' Chi Id 

220 Turned Heads 

221 A Match in the Dark 

222 Advice to Husbands 
Siamese Twins 

224 Sent to the Tower 

vol. xxrx. 

225 Somebodv Flse 
2 6 Ladies' Battle 

rt of Acting 

228 The Ladv of the Lions 

229 The Risrhts "f Man 

230 My HusDand's Ghost 

231 Two Can Play at that 
Game 

232 Fighting bv Proxy 
VOL XXX 

233 Unprotected Female 

234 Pet of the Petticoats 

235 Forty and Fifty [book 
286 Who Stole the Pocket- 
187 Mv Son Diana [sion 
238 Unwarrantable I n t * u - 
289 Mr. and M-s. White 
240 A Quiet Family 




(French's Minor Drama Continued on id page of Cover.) 



016 103 286 4 * 



Vol. xxxu. 

249 Dr. D'l worth 

250 Out to Nurse 

251 A Lucky Hit 

252 The Dowager 

253 Metamora (Burlesque) 

254 Dreams of Delusion 
256 The Shaker Lovere 
256 Ticklish Times 

VOL. XXXIII. 
v67 20 Minutes with a Tiger 

258 Miralda; or, the Justice 

of Tacou 

259 A Soldier's Courtship 

260 Servants by Legacy 

261 Dying for Love 

262 Alarming Sacrifice 

263 Valet de Sham 

264 Nicholas JSickleby 

VOL. XXXIV. 

265 The Last of the Pigtails 

266 King Rene's Daughter 

267 Th« Grotto Nymph 

268 A Devilish Good Joke 

269 A Twice Told Tale 

270 Pas de Fascination 
v71 Revolutionary Soldier 

272 A Man Without a Head 

VOL. XXXV. 

273 The Olio, Part 1 

274 The Olio, Part S 

275 The Olio, Part 3 [ter 

276 The Trumpeter's Daugh- 

277 Seeing Warren 

278 Green Mountain Boy 

279 That Nose 

280 Tom Noddy's Secret 

VOL. XXXVI. 

281 Shocking Event* 

282 A Regular Fix 

283 Dick Turpin 

284 Young Scamp 

285 Young Actress 

286 Call at No. 1— T 

287 One Touch of Nature 

288 Two B'hoys 

VOL. XXXVII. 

289 All the World's a Stage 

290 Quash, or Nigger Prao- 

291 Turn Him Out [tlce 

292 Pretty Girls of Stlllberg 
2!*3 Angel of the Attic 

294 C'rcumstancesalterCases 

295 Rutty O'Sheal 

296 A Supper in Dixie 

VOL. XXXVIII. 

297 Ioi on Parle Francais 

298 Who Killed Cock Robin 

299 Declaration of Ii.depend- 

300 Heads or Tails fence 

301 Obstinate Family 

302 Mv Aunt 
That Rascal Pat 

304 Don Paddv de Bazan 

VOL. XXXIX. [ture 
Too Much for Good Na- 
Cure for the Fidgets 

307 Jack's the Lad 

308 Much Ado A bout Nothing 
"^9 Artful Dodsrer 

Winning Hazard 

1 Day's Fishing [Ac. 
312 Did you ev>-r send your, 

VOL. XL. 
An Irishman's Maneuver' 

314 Cousin Fannie 

31 5 'Tis the Darkest Hour be-' 

316 Masquerade [fore Dawn 

317 Crowding the Season 
8 Good Nisrht's Rust 

319 Man with the Carpet B?<* 

320 Terrible Tinker 



SAMUEL FRENCH, 28-30 West 38th Street, New York City. 

New Rnrt Exploit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request. 



